'Adobe Photoshop' is an example of which type of general purpose application software?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Accepted — A (Graphics Software) or B (Multimedia software); MPPSC's final key marks both, so a student who shaded either option scored the mark. A is the primary answer: Adobe Photoshop is a raster (bitmap) image editor, and its whole job is creating and editing pictures — layers, selections, masks, retouching, colour correction — which is the textbook definition of graphics software. B was allowed because the standard Indian computer-studies syllabus also runs a wider 'multimedia software' category covering packages that create or edit media content — images, audio, video, animation — and an image editor sits inside that family; Photoshop itself handles frame animation and video layers besides still images. Since graphics software is a subset of multimedia software rather than a rival to it, the two labels are not mutually exclusive, and the commission granted grace instead of forcing one.

Why the other options are wrong — (c) There is no such category of application software. A web series is a form of video content distributed online, not a class of program.  (d) Database software stores, queries and manages structured records — MS Access, Oracle, MySQL. Photoshop keeps no tables and answers no queries; it edits image files.

Concept: Software divides first into system software (the operating system, utilities, language translators) and application software (programs that do a user's actual work). Application software then divides into general purpose packages, sold off the shelf for anyone — word processors, spreadsheets, presentation tools, DBMS, graphics and multimedia editors, browsers — and specific purpose software written for one organisation, such as a bank's core banking system. Photoshop is a general purpose package in the graphics/multimedia family.

State PCS 2025 Q2 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2025 Q2 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer